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President Tilghman issues statement on Hurricane Katrina

Posted September 2, 2005; 10:06 a.m.

by Lauren Robinson-Brown

Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman issued the following statement on Friday, Sept. 2:

The destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina is overwhelming and
heartbreaking, and its impact will be far reaching and long lasting.
Hundreds of thousands of residents of the Gulf Coast have suffered
devastating losses and face enormous challenges in the weeks, months
and even years ahead. We extend our deepest sympathies to those who are
suffering as a result of this tragedy, and we want to do as much as we
can to help.

Within our own University family, we have reached out to all of our
undergraduate and graduate students who live in the states of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to offer them any assistance they
may need to arrive on campus safely and prepare for the fall semester.
Counseling and medical services are being made available to any
students who need them. We also will provide support for members of the
faculty and staff who may have family members in the area devastated by
the hurricane, and will do everything we can to assist members of the
University community who wish to offer their services as volunteers.
With the support of the Alumni Council, our regional alumni
associations in the Gulf Coast are reaching out to their members to see
what help they may be able to provide.

Although classes have yet to start, our students are planning
fund-raisers, and we will do what we can to support their efforts. Even
before those events can take place, we know that many members of the
campus community will want to contribute financially to the national
relief efforts through the American Red Cross or other organizations
that are providing assistance. We are working with the national higher
education associations that are seeking to coordinate relief efforts
for colleges and universities in the Gulf Coast area. In addition, we
are prepared to provide housing on our campus for a limited number of
academically-qualified, undergraduate and graduate students who have
been displaced from their colleges and universities by the hurricane
and flooding so that they may continue their educational pursuits until
they can return to their home institutions. Students interested in
being considered for these special arrangements should contact Karen
Woodbridge at (609) 258-5144.

Tragic events like these touch us deeply and remind us of our
responsibilities to care for each other. In the face of such enormous
devastation it is heartening that so many want to do what they can to
bring hope and support to those in need.